Tips for a Safe Holiday Season

Indulge

Ways to prevent fires at home

It’s no surprise that as the holiday season approaches, family and friends gather to celebrate. With more cooking, decorating and rituals that include candles and open flames, the risk of house fires and pediatric burn injuries increase drastically during the month of December.

These holiday traditions can all lead to a devastating house fire when there are young children in the home. The U.S. Fire Administration reports there are approximately 128,700 fires during this festive month that account for 415 deaths and 1,650 injuries.

BURN AWARENESS

According to Dr. David Herndon, with Shriners Hospitals for Children in Galveston, Texas, there are three types of pediatric burns that are common during the holidays. They include scalds from steam or hot liquids, contact with heat or flames and electrical burns. Understanding these common injuries and how to avoid them can help your family to stay safe this season.

BE PREPARED

To protect your loved ones, make sure your home is equipped with working smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. The holiday season is a great time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and to check fire extinguishers.

Have an escape plan for your family and always cook with care. Most importantly, if you or your child experiences a burn, immediately consult a physician.

HOLIDAY FIRE SAFETY TIPS

Look out for loved ones and prepare for the

holiday ahead with these simple fire safety tips from Shriners Hospitals for Children:

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS

Make sure your tree is at least 3 feet away from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles or heat vents. If you have a live tree in your home, keep it well-watered and remove it after the holiday or when it becomes dry.

HOLIDAY LIGHTING

Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots and excessive kinking or wear before use. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet.

CANDLE CARE

Consider using battery-operated, flameless candles. Never leave lit candles unattended. When using lit candles, make sure they are in stable holders and placed where they cannot be knocked down easily.

HOLIDAY COOKING

Cooking is the primary cause of home fires and fire injuries, so keep an eye on what you fry. Stand by your pan and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so children cannot reach them. Wear short sleeves or roll up long sleeves when cooking. Keep a pan lid or cookie sheet nearby to cover the pan if it catches on fire.